Auckland's Mike Northey is the 2012 Tour of Southland champion after a thrilling final stage this afternoon.

Starting the 87km stage from Winton to Invercargill 17sec down on United States rider Carter Jones, Northey was able to get into a break driven by four-time winner Hayden Roulston and his Calder Stewart team mate Michael Vink.

Jones became isolated from his Bissell Pro Cycling team mates and the gap between the yellow jersey and the breakaway grew the closer they got to Invercargill.

Roulston claimed the stage win in Gala St from Vink, with Vink's ride good enough to see him leapfrog his way into the under 23 jersey, with Northey trailing in close behind to secure the yellow jersey.

Northey's Node4-Subaru team mates claimed the teams classification, with Creation Signs-L&M Mining Group Racing rider Joe Chapman defending the King of the Mountain jersey he won last year and Australian rider Sam Witmitz (Share the Road) winning the sprint ace classification.